If youre in charge of planning Thanksgiving this year, consider it a sign that your family and friends have a lot of trust in you! As you plan for the holiday, you might be wondering what size turkey to get for your gathering. Luckily, weve got all the info you need on how much turkey breast per person is recommended for your Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, you can adjust these calculations if you have family members who are likely to come back for extra servings of turkey, as well as those who might skip the turkey altogether and load up on vegetable dishes. Because were all about making sure your holidays run smoothly, weve also included estimates for side dishes and desserts, so you dont need to guess how many pies or pounds of potatoes you might need to grab during your pre-Thanksgiving shop.
Turkey breast is a holiday staple, known for its lean, moist white meat. But turkey breast sizes can vary widely. So how many pounds is an average turkey breast? What factors affect weight? And how much should you buy per person? This detailed guide has all the answers on typical turkey breast weights.
Average Turkey Breast Weights
On average a raw turkey breast weighs 4 to 8 pounds. However weights can range
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Smaller young turkey breasts may be just 2 to 3 pounds
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Large tom turkey breast halves can be 10 to 12 pounds or more.
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Hens tend to have smaller breasts than toms.
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Heritage and wild turkey breasts are usually lighter than commercial broad-breasted turkeys.
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Boneless turkey breasts range from 2 to 6 pounds without bones or skin,
While 5 to 6 pounds is common, always check packaging for the exact weight. Turkey breast sizes vary widely.
What Impacts Turkey Breast Size?
Several factors influence turkey breast weight:
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Breed – Heritage breeds have smaller breasts than broad-breasted commercial turkeys.
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Sex – Toms have larger breasts than hens. Tom breast halves can be much heavier.
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Age – Younger “fryer-roaster” turkeys under 16 weeks old have lighter breasts.
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Diet – Pasture-raised and organic exercise more, reducing breast size.
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Preparation – Boneless breasts are lighter. Removing skin and fat also drops weight.
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Enhancements – Some raw turkey breasts are enhanced with broth adding weight.
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Time of Year – Turkeys have the largest breasts before the holidays.
How Much Turkey Breast Per Person?
Here are turkey breast serving size guidelines per person:
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Boneless: Plan on 1/2 pound per person.
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Bone-in: Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person for bones.
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Smaller appetites: Reduce to 1/3 pound boneless or 1/2 pound bone-in.
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Hearty appetites: Increase to 3/4 pound boneless or 1 1/4 pounds bone-in.
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Leftovers: Add an extra 1/2 to 1 pound boneless or 1 to 1 1/2 pounds bone-in.
For 4 people, buy 5 pounds bone-in or 3 pounds boneless. Adjust up or down depending on your gathering. It’s better to have too much than too little turkey breast.
Bone-In vs. Boneless Turkey Breasts
Bone-in turkey breasts contain the wishbone, ribs, and partial backbone. Boneless have all bones removed:
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Boneless are easier to cook and carve but bone-in have more flavor.
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Boneless cooks faster but also dries out quicker.
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For easiest handling, choose boneless. But bone-in makes an impressive presentation.
Selecting, Storing, and Thawing Turkey Breasts
When buying turkey breasts:
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Choose plump, uniformly sized breasts. Avoid irregular shapes.
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Look for enhanced or brined turkey for added moisture and flavor.
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Check for a USDA inspection seal indicating quality.
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Check sell-by and use-by dates and select the freshest.
Store fresh raw turkey breast refrigerated 1 to 2 days. Freeze up to 1 year for longer storage. Always thaw frozen turkey slowly in the fridge, never at room temperature.
Cooking Times for Turkey Breasts
For food safety, fully thaw breasts before cooking. Recommended thaw times:
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Refrigerator: 24 hours per 5 pounds
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Cold water: 6 hours per 5 pounds, changing water every 30 minutes
Roast bone-in turkey breasts at 325°F, cooking 18-22 minutes per pound to 165°F. Boneless cooks faster at 12-15 minutes per pound.
Smoking low and slow at 225-250°F takes 30-40 minutes per pound for juicy smoked turkey breast. Cook to 165°F internal temperature.
The Takeaway on Turkey Breast Sizes
While 5 to 6 pounds is typical, turkey breast weights range from 2 to 12 pounds or more. Allow 3/4 to 1 pound bone-in per person. Buy boneless at 1/2 pound per person. Then adjust for appetites and leftovers. With the right thaw methods and cooking times, turkey breasts of any size can turn out perfect.
What if I’m serving a large crowd?
Of course, every rule has an exception. If you’re cooking for more than 16 people, buy one 12- to 14-pound bird and a breast instead of roasting a mammoth turkey (anything over 15 pounds will likely dry out by the time it’s cooked through). Prepare and roast the whole turkey on the upper rack of your oven and the breast on the lower rack.
- One 12- to 14-lb whole turkey and one 6- to 10-lb bone-in breast
- Dry mix stuffing (36 oz)
- Potatoes (10 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (10 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (four 14-oz cans)
- Pie (3–4)
- Brussels sprouts (4.5 lbs)
- Green beans (6 lbs)
How much turkey per person do I need?
Our recommendation is to plan for one pound of turkey per person, or ½ pound per person for a boneless turkey breast. If youre buying a bone-in turkey breast, figure on 3/4 pound per person.
- Whole turkey (8 lbs)
- Dry mix stuffing (12 oz)
- Potatoes (4 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (4 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (two 14-oz cans)
- Pie (1–2)
- Brussels sprouts (1.5 lbs)
- Green beans (2 lbs)
- Whole turkey (16 lbs)
- Dry mix stuffing (24 oz)
- Potatoes (8 lbs)
- Sweet potatoes (8 lbs)
- Canned cranberry sauce (three 14-oz cans)
- Pie (2–3)
- Brussels sprouts (3 lbs)
- Green beans (4 lbs)
How long do you smoke a turkey breast per pound?
FAQ
What is the average weight of a turkey breast?
A bone-in turkey breast consists of both breast portions, along with the skin, ribs, and part of the backbone, weighing 4-5 pounds and as large as 8 pounds. You will commonly find bone-in turkey breasts at the supermarket throughout the year, usually packaged as shown in the photo below.
How many people will a 4 pound turkey breast feed?
Here are a few quick numbers to reference: 4 people = 2 pound turkey breast. 8 people = 4 pound turkey breast. 10 people = 5 pound turkey breast.
What size turkey breast for 8 adults?
Plan on 3/4 to 1 pound of bone-in turkey breast per person. That said, one (3-pound) half-breast will feed two to four people. A whole (six- to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts, still joined at the breast bone) will feed six to eight people.
How much breast meat is on a 12 pound turkey?
Typically, you’ll get 2 to 3 times as much white meat as dark meat from a whole turkey. For example, from a 12-pound turkey, you’ll end up with about 5 pounds of cooked meat—roughly 3 1/2 pounds of white meat and 1 1/2 pounds of dark meat.
How much turkey breast should I Cook per person?
Our recommendation is to plan for one pound of turkey per person, or ½ pound per person for a boneless turkey breast. If youre buying a bone-in turkey breast, figure on 3/4 pound per person. How long does it take to cook an 8 pound turkey breast at 350?
How much turkey breast should I buy for 4 people?
Round up to 1-1/2 pounds per person for bone-in breast and 1 pound per person if you’re hoping to have plenty of meat left over. It’s better to have too much than to have guests go hungry. Therefore, if you’re expecting 4 people, you should buy 5 pounds of bone-in turkey breast or 3 pounds of boneless meat.
How much does a turkey breast weigh?
Our ultimate guide to turkey breast size has the answers. Turkey breast weight varies depending on the size of the bird and whether the breasts are sold bone-in or boneless. You can expect to find turkey breasts weighing between 4 and 8 pounds when you buy them at the supermarket, although there may also be larger specimens available.
How much turkey breast should a 2 pounder eat?
From petite 2 pounders to mammoth 12 pound tom turkey breasts, turkey breast sizes run the gamut. Typically, bone-in breast halves fall in the 4 to 8 pound range. Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person for bone-in or 1/2 pound per person of boneless. Adjust up or down depending on appetites.
What size turkey breast do I Need?
For medium to large gatherings of 6-16 people, a whole bone-in turkey breast is a great option. Choose a size in the range of 6 pounds for 6 people up to 14 pounds for a crowd of 16. If you’ll need more meat than one whole turkey breast provides, you can cook two smaller breasts rather than one oversized turkey.
How much boneless turkey breast should a person eat?
Boneless breast: Plan on 1/2 pound per person. Bone-in breast: Allow 3/4 to 1 pound per person to account for bones. These serving sizes provide a starting point, but consider your guests’ preferences too. You can always carve and serve additional breast meat. Bone-in turkey breasts contain the wishbone, rib bones, and partial backbone.